Commentary On Akshara Mana Malai Of Ramana Maharishi: Self-Inquiry

Ramana Maharshi is an exponent on Self-enquiry. He has great devotion and gratitude for Arunachala Siva. He said the holy hill of Arunachala is nothing but a solid mass of bliss of Siva. The devotees of Ramana Maharshi used to go begging for food in the town of Tiruvannamalai and they asked Bhagawan to write poems for singing while begging so that people will recognise them as Ramana Maharshi devotees. Conceding to their request Bhagawan started writing verses, considering himself as bride to the bridegroom Arunachala Siva in which out of love he accuses Arunachala Siva for not fulfilling his spiritual expectations. This type of accusing out of love is called Ninda Stuti (Praising through accusing) which has got its own poetic value. Bhagawan used to do Giri Pradakshina slowly and some verses were spontaneously felt by him and he noted them on the paper. On the whole there are 108 verses, the number is auspicious in Hinduism. Akshara is a sanskrit word which means indestructible letter, Mana in Tamil means marriage, Malai means garland. So the bride Ramana Maharshi prepared the indestructible garland of letters for the bridegroom Arunachala Siva to place that garland around his neck during marriage and in turn expects a garland of grace from Arunachala Siva. So Akshara Mana Malai means marital garland of letters put together by Ramana.